A Pickleball court is a quarter of a regulation tennis court with two teams of two players. Franklin Recreation repainted a tennis court to establish Pickleball play at Franklin’s Lion’s Legend Park II on Drexel Road. Photo: C.T. KRUGER/NOW MEDIA GROUP, June 2018

Recognizing that senior citizens love pickleball Franklin has enthusiastically embraced the sport. And pickleball isn’t popular with just the older crowd but with younger folks, too. Lions Legend Park has become a pickleball hot spot.

A sign on the fence reserves the court for Open Social Pickleball play at Franklin’s Lion’s Legend Park II on Drexel Road. Photo: C.T. KRUGER/NOW MEDIA GROUP

Back in January 2022 at a Franklin Common Council meeting several times Mayor Steve Olson mentioned to those in attendance ‘This is a big deal.’ And you couldn’t blame him.

Olson was referring to one significant announcement after another made that night.

Saputo Cheese coming to Franklin.

New housing units on the SW side.

Upcoming $4 million payment to the city resulting from the big success at Velo Village Luxury Apartments.

A 40-plus room boutique hotel at Ballpark Commons.

Also at Ballpark Commons, a brewpub, live entertainment, and pickleball. I blogged last summer that the upcoming “Rock N Pickle” in Franklin’s Ballpark Commons discussed during that January council meeting will have five outdoor courts and five indoor courts – paired with a small concert venue, large bar and a new restaurant concept. “Rock N Pickle” is scheduled to open sometime in the fall of 2023.

Interesting because the head of Roc Ventures at Ballpark Commons Mike Zimmerman is not supporting Olson in the mayoral race.

They do agree on pickleball, and why not? It’s the fastest growing sport in America.